Disney’s dragon-centricEragonadaptation has been in limbo for years now, but perhaps the success of another dragon rider property will motivate producers to start pushing forward development again. The highly anticipatedHow to Train Your Dragonlive-action remake arrived in movie theaters in early June 2025, delivering new versions of iconic, thrilling dragon-flight sequences.How to Train Your Dragon’s reviews say that it is a great first remake for DreamWorks, and does justice to the powerful bond between Viking Hiccup (Mason Thames) and the Night Fury Dragon Toothless.
The remake’s success has resulted in the live-actionHow to Train Your Dragon 2entering development, which will continue to show the adventures of Berk’s riders and their dragon companions in a new medium. There is also much speculation surrounding whether Cate Blanchett will return to play Hiccup’s mother Valka (whom she voices in the animated movies), as Gerard Butler did as his father Stoick. It is easy to see howDreamWorks took a page out of Disney’s book regarding remakes— and now, Disney may be inspired by DreamWorks to kick-start their own dragon property.
Disney Should Prioritize Its Eragon Adaptation After How To Train Your Dragon’s Success
Disney Can Capitalize On The Popularity Of Dragon-Riding Adventures
Disney acquired the rights to Christopher Paolini’s book seriesThe Inheritance Cycle, often known by the title of its first installmentEragon, and announced a TV show adaptation was in development in 2022. Many fantasy book series that had previously seen failed movie adaptations were being picked up by streamers for a second chance around this time — we have seen the results of this with Disney+’s success withPercy Jackson and the Olympiansand HBO withHis Dark Materials.2006’sEragonmovie is notorious in fan circles for its poor qualityand disregard for the source material.
However, we have heard virtually no updates from Disney since other thanPaolini assuring fans thatEragon’s TV show is still happeninglast year. While hammering out the paperwork may be complicated, it is clear that Disney would prioritize other projects. However,How to Train Your Dragonmay prompt producers to redirect their efforts, as it demonstrates the enduring passion for this particular take on dragons, as well as how good it can look in live action. Especially asPercy Jacksonsettles into a routine of producing new seasons, they may be able to getEragonstarted.
Eragon’s portrayal of dragons is similar toHow to Train Your Dragon,emphasizing the partnership between a dragon and a rider. Eragon and his dragon Saphira are at the center of the story; Saphira can also communicate with Eragon telepathically. There are similar themes of dragons needing to be safeguarded as their numbers have dwindled, against the backdrop of the main characters fighting for their kingdom’s future, with many compelling supporting characters. Those searching for a more mature take onHow to Train Your Dragonmay find themselves converted intoEragonfans.
Furthermore, the live-actionHow to Train Your Dragonillustrates that special effects are at a point now where they can give the visuals of Eragon and Saphira’s world their due.Special effects in the early 2000s weren’t bad, per se, but it is clear that the same level of diligence that went into Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy was not given toEragon. This was especially damning whenEragonhas Saphira, a character who is a massive feat of CGI and needs to be convincingly life-like for an emotional pillar of the story to land.
While Toothless looks essentially the same as he does in the animated version, his textures and movements are detailed and realistic, and the rest of the dragons that surround Berk are expertly rendered. The work done onGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragonis also an indicator that VFX specialists have a blueprint on how to tackle Saphira now.Eragonis a complex series to adapt, not just for visual reasons, and with more guidelines for how to handle that part, Disney can dedicate itself to the story, spurred on by the dragon rider subgenre’s popularity.
